Classic-winning trainer David Wachman is to retire at the end of the season.

For most people lucky enough to have a birthday coinciding with the Cheltenham Festival a pair of tickets to the meeting is a valued present — but Colm O’Connell might just enjoy the best celebration of all, a Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase win for Un De Sceaux.

James Heffernan has a formidable election team at his home base, writes Mid-West Correspondent Jimmy Woulfe

Mouse Morris believes both Rule The World and Folsom Blue are capable of making their presence felt in a fiercely-competitive renewal of the Goffs Thyestes Chase at Gowran Park today.

Deciding between riding at Tramore and Cheltenham this afternoon was pretty straight-forward.

Thurles hosts today’s national hunt card and Fr Humphrey can follow up yesterday’s success at Fairyhouse by taking the Thurles Handicap Chase for Mary Hallahan.

Two meetings in Ireland this Bank Holiday Monday, and Vicangelome gets the nap to build on the distinct promise of his chasing debut by taking the sixth race at Wexford for trainer Robert Tyner.

Champion Hurdle-winning trainer Colm Murphy savoured a welcome change of luck when Catalaunian Fields landed the Thatch Bar Katies Kitchen Maiden Hurdle in Bellewstown last night.

As De Ferbet can overcome an absence in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners’ Chase on this evening’s Midlands National card at Kilbeggan.

Odds-on favourites Bachasson, Long Dog and Fugi Mountain continued the rich vein of form being enjoyed by champion trainer Willie Mullins when recording a treble in Sligo yesterday.

The Henry de Bromhead-trained Sizing Platinum made a successful chasing debut and denied Barry Geraghty a win on his first day back after injury and as retained rider for J McManus when landing the Book Online At Limerickraces.ie Beginners Chase in Limerick yesterday.

Danny Mullins proved the undoubted star of last night’s jumps action in Wexford, completing a superb 41/1 treble on Last Encounter, Ballinaboola Prince and Moonunderwater.

Found remains in contention for the Investec Derby at Epsom on Saturday week following her narrow defeat in Sunday’s Irish 1,000 Guineas.

The Dermot Weld-trained Kaleefa earned a valuable winning bracket when justifying 5/6 favouritism in the Irish Stallion Farms Fillies Maiden in Roscommon last night.

Unic De Bersy might provide Bryan Cooper with a welcome success in today’s Tipperary Races Supports Club Maiden Hurdle in Tipperary.

There may be a dictum that frowns on cheering in the press box, but the sight of Martello Tower persevering in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Chase was guaranteed to curry quiet favour among those tasked with covering these events. 

It’s four years since Gavin Sheehan left Ireland to try his hand abroad and yesterday’s triumph in the World Hurdle on Cole Harden is proof that the grass can actually be greener on the other side, writes Brendan O’Brien.

Aer Lingus transatlantic cabin crew member Olive Murphy will turn pilot at the upcoming Cheltenham race meeting.

Salsify, the 2013 Foxhunter Chase winner, could be in line for a popular return to Cheltenham in March.

The Job Is Right is a hopeful choice to land a typically wide-open Goffs’ Thyestes Handicap Chase at Gowran Park this afternoon.

Take a chance on Mouse Morris’ Alpha Des Obeaux turning over Willie Mullins’ hot pot, Douvan, in the Grade 2 sportinglife.com Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle at Punchestown this afternoon.

There’s a real hint of the Christmas blues about Irish racing this weekend, with small fields essentially the order of the day at both Cork this afternoon and Naas tomorrow.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny took refuge inside a hotel for over three hours as he came under further fire last night from water charges demonstrators.

Home Farm, formerly trained by Arthur Moore, made a winning start for Henry de Bromhead when taking the Listed John Meagher Memorial Chase at Thurles yesterday.

Henry de Bromhead admitted: "You dream of days like this," after chasing debutant Sizing Granite beat odds-on favourite Lieutenant Colonel in the Weatherbys Ireland GSB Beginners Chase in Naas to complete the trainer’s first treble.

Shanahan’s Turn made an impressive chasing debut when landing the Ballymore Christmas Fair Beginners Chase at the expense of Wounded Warrior in Punchestown yesterday.

Philip Dempsey’s Mr Diablo, given a spin over flights at Fairyhouse last January, can land the Follow Us On Facebook And Twitter Maiden Hurdle at Punchestown this afternoon.

The eight-bedroomed Georgian residence boasts well-proportioned, elegant reception rooms and was bought by the Byrne family 25 years ago and completely renovated.

I go to Cork tomorrow to ride two horses, the first of them being Bosman Rule for Willie Mullins.

JP McManus got his cheque book out to secure Shanpallas just in time for the Ladbrokes Munster National at Limerick.

The great Sizing Europe heads to Gowran Park today in an attempt to win the Grade 2 PWC Champion Chase for the fourth year in-a-row.

Katie Walsh, sister of the legendary, Ruby, and daughter of another legend, Ted, became the first woman to win the Guinness Kerry National when giving Your Busy an outstanding ride at Listowel yesterday.

"I didn’t think we would have many winners this week, he was our banker", said Pat Flynn, after his Gusty Rock had landed the Family Fun Afternoon Maiden Hurdle at the final stage of the Tramore festival yesterday.

The Andy Oliver-trained Panama Hat completed a superb five-timer when defying the handicapper and a high draw in yesterday’s finale in Dundalk, the featured, €50,000 Red God Handicap.

Michael Hourigan is fancied to enjoy a welcome turn with Hash Brown in the Easyfix Rubber Products Maiden Hurdle at Ballinrobe tonight.

Eye Of The Storm dug deep to strike gold for the first time this year in the Group Three Ballyroan Stakes at Leopardstown last night.

Riverside City gets the nap to land easily the most interesting contest on the card at Roscommon tonight, the Easyfix Rubber Products Rated Novice Hurdle.

Aughnacurraveel, trained by Thomas Cummins at Clashmore, Co Waterford, produced a fine display to land the Club Limerick Chase at Limerick yesterday.

Cillian’s Return, bought out of Bill Farrell’s by J P McManus after taking a bumper at Fairyhouse on New Year’s Day, made a winning start for his new connections when easily taking the Michael Maher Building And Construction Services Maiden Hurdle at Tipperary last night.

The Joe Murphy-trained Daredevil Day defied a huge hike of 13lbs for winning at Sligo when arriving late and fast to land the Live The Dream With Tote Handicap at Killarney last night.